News: Plans in for another Rotherham solar farm

A planning application has been submitted for another solar farm in Rotherham - this time for 21 hectares of greenbelt land in the North of the borough.

Rothbiz reported last year on early stage plans from ILOS for a 25 MVA solar farm west of Firsby Lane between Hooton Roberts and Conisbrough.

ILOS unlock value for landowners, communities and investors by bridging the gap between inventive PV solutions and innovative financing models. BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts holds a 60% majority stake and acts as ILOS’s strategic partner and majority shareholder.

Applicants say that the average annual output of the proposed solar farm would be sufficient to power approximately 6,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 4,830 tonnes per annum.

They add that they consider that "the site constitutes “Grey Belt” which does not fundamentally undermine Green Belt purposes" and continue: "even if the site is not considered “Grey Belt” the proposal makes an important to the generation of renewable energy and, as such, very special circumstances would apply which support the proposed development in this location."

Rotherham Counail has previously said that large parts of this site "are designated as best and most versatile agricultural land" and asked the applicants to submit in-depth consideration / justification on the visual impact and the impact on the surrounding landscape and trees as well as the impact on ecology and heritage assets. Particular concerns were raised about the potential cumulative visual impact of the solar farm along with the proposed Whitestone solar farm nearby.

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With a low-lying solar panel array, the applicants say that: "Overall, the effect on the visual amenity and visual character of the study area as a whole will be limited, and the proposals will therefore have only a minor effect on established visual components. The landscaping proposals will remain as a legacy, benefiting local landscape structure and biodiversity, when the scheme is decommissioned on completion of its operational phase."

If approved, the development would export renewable energy to the grid for a maximum of 40 years and some enhancement and mitigation measures are proposed.

Despite the issue being raised by the council, and during public consultation, applicants have not assessed any cumulative impacts, despite the proximity to the Whitestone proposals. They state that there are "no comparable solar PV schemes in the study area nor are there submitted planning applications / unimplemented consented schemes."

Whitestone Solar Farm is a proposed generating station with an estimated capacity of up to 750MW across various sites in Rotherham. It is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), which means that it is applying for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to authorise its construction, operation and decommissioning. The final decision on a DCO application will be made at the national level by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

A DCO submission is currently being assessed.

ILOS website

Images: ILOS

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News: Plans progress for commercial units by Rotherham nightclub site

Plans have been detailed that make use of vacant land on the edge of Rotherham town centre, close to where a popular nightclub once stood.

Rotherham-based developer EV Waddington Ltd has supplied much needed industrial and manufacturing accommodation across the borough over the years and is now progressing plans to build a speculative development on land off Brinsworth Street.

Outline planning permission showing four employment units totalling 23.400 sq ft, was approved at the end of 2022.

To the rear of the site of the Liquid & Envy nightclub, the brownfield land between the railway line and Centenary Way has in recent years been used as a car park.

The latest detailed plans show four new light industrial units, ranging from 5,470 sq ft to 5,585 sq ft, and that the existing vehicle entrance off Brinsworth Street to be retained. Details of drainage, landscaping and construction management are also included.

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Made part of a site for Mixed Use Allocation in the borough's Local Plan called "MU09," the town centre masterplan of 2017 had the Main Street area down for a new gateway development providing commercial use and retail uses close to, but not competing with, the core town centre. This included ideas for a new larger format discount-convenience food store along with ancillary large format retail units and a drive-thru café / food and drink unit. The 2022 plans stated: "At the time this document was produced there was retail interest in the northern site which we understand is not now the case."

In approving outline plans, council planners said: "Whilst not fully in accordance with MU09 in land use terms, the policy allows proposals to be considered where a non-included uses (sic) can be considered on their own merits.

"Overall it is considered that the principle of the proposal has an acceptable mix of employment uses and that the site is more suited to employment use than some of the other uses within E Class [a whole range of uses now under Commercial, Business and Service] given the character of the immediate area. It is considered to be appropriate for this site."

E V Waddington Ltd has already developed 31 East in Dinnington, Northfield Business Park in Rotherham, Vantage Park in Sheffield, Shortwood Business Park in Barnsley, and Aldwarke Business Park and Chesterton Court in Rotherham.

The Liquid & Envy nightclub closed in 2012 following a decline in trade. The previous operators, Luminar Leisure, went into administration in October 2011 and a subsequent £45m deal to save the operation included the purchase of the Main Street venue but it closed in the December of 2012.

The site went up for sale but it was demolished in 2015.

Waddingtons website

Images: Google Maps

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News: Council's funding for Forge Island comes under scrutiny

Rotherham Council's cabinet has rubber-stamped a financial deal to fund the up front costs for the Forge Island regeneration scheme and award a £46.8m tender for the works.

Forge Island is a Council-owned site which sits between the River Don and South Yorkshire Navigation Canal in Rotherham town centre. Led by Muse Developments, it will host a new leisure scheme with an 8-screen boutique style cinema, modern hotel, food and beverage (F&B) outlets and car parking. It is set to be completed in 2024.

Rothbiz has reported that the funding for the project was under review by the council after they were told that the funding available to its delivery partner, Muse, for the delivery of Forge Island "significantly reduced."

Cabinet approved an increase in the Council’s Capital Programme to cover the £46.8m costs which is expected to be covered by the authority's own borrowing and capital resources.

It is set to save nearly £50m compared to an externally funded deal drafted in 2018.

At the cabinet meeting this week, Cllr Chris Read, leader of Rotherham Council, said: "People that have followed this recently, the need for the council to step in to provide that upfront capital to ensure that the scheme goes ahead, and moves ahead quickly, will understand where that has come from. The fact that the private financier is no longer in a position to do that in light of the wider economic conditions.

"It is worth saying that it doesn't relate to anything to do with the Forge Island proposal. This is about the wider economic factors that we are facing, and that the whole economy is facing, rather than something specific to us. But, we are in a position where we can step in and fill that gap, thus ensuring that the scheme moves ahead. I think people have waited quite long enough for this kind of development in the middle of town."

Read revealed last week that he had seen council development papers from the 1960s, in which it had "Forge Island leisure development" highlighted and it is over 30 years since Rotherham had a cinema. Cannon, the last town centre cinema, closed in 1990. Previously the Rotherham Forge & Rolling Mills, the Forge Island site was fully cleared following the relocation of Tesco across town in 2014.

At a full council meeting, opposition councillors raised issues including the time taken for the development to reach this stage, reassurances around taxpayer's money, value for money, the impact of a potential recession on commercial schemes, the suitability and sustainability of cinemas, and communication and perception issues regarding the wider town centre.

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The finances have largely been kept private due to commercial sensitivities but on the issue, Cllr. Read said: "The proposal does save a substantial amount of money, tens of millions of pounds over the course of the life of the programme.

"These capital costs are provided up front but they will be repaid by the commercial income generated over the course of the scheme, actually, well over repaid if the projections are anything to go by.

"If we weren't in a position to move forward then we certainly would be losing ground, and we already have those commercial partners in place and contracts signed and we need to keep up our side of the bargain."

Replying to opposition members, Cllr. Read said: "I share in the frustration about the length of time that this has taken. All I can do, all any of us can do, is to act now to deliver the things that the people of Rotherham deserve.

"Part of the reason why we are so pleased to have secured the food and beverage retailers in the last few weeks is that it gives us confidence. They are modelling their finances, even given the forecast for the next couple of years, that they will be in a profitable position. And committing to long term contracts as well - these are not short-term, month by month contracts, they are ten year plus contracts that they are committing to, and that helps us in turn to mitigate those commercial risks.

"My shoulder is to the grindstone on making this happen as quickly, and cost-effectively, as it possibly can be."

Cllr. Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Economy at Rotherham Council, added that she believed that, had the council not decided to step in, then Forge Island would not have been built out. She added: "“By incorporating the scheme into the Council’s capital programme, we can have contractors on site within weeks and begin to realise a commercial benefit for taxpayers directly and much sooner.”

Rotherham Council has also approved a plan to use some of its £17m Town Centre Investment Fund for enabling works on the site.

Works are due to start at the end of this month.

Forge Island website

Images: Muse / RMBC

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News: Trust needed before building can begin at Bassingthorpe

Rotherham Council is proposing to pool its land together with that of other landowners in order to progress development at Bassingthorpe Farm.

As part of the Local Plan core strategy that was adopted in 2014, the 215 hectare area close to Rotherham town centre was controversially removed from the Green Belt and designated as a Strategic Allocation and the main location for new housing, employment and retail growth.

Around 57 hectares (26%) of the site is under Rotherham Council's ownership and the Council has been leading on the proposals for a number of years, working collaboratively with major landowner, Fitzwilliam (Wentworth) Estates, on how to bring forward the project.

The Council is now finalising details of a proposal to put its Bassingthorpe land into a land pooling arrangement, known as a Bare Trust, to progress delivery and enable a partner to be procured to help deliver the development.

Trustees would appoint a partner to sell off land parcels to housebuilders and commercial developers in return for a share of the capital receipts.

It was in November 2016 when the authority approved plans to search for a "Promotion Partner" that would bring skills and funding to facilitate the delivery of the site.

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2,400 dwellings could be joined by 11 hectares for employment use, a local health centre, primary school, and a local centre together with the green and social infrastructure necessary to create facilities to serve the new and existing communities.

Masterplanners, WYG, undertook consultation last year on the vision to create a "garden suburb for the 21st century." It showed a range of character areas including a new modern urban living housing area at Clough Bank View. A mixed use area is also included incorporating the Grade II Listed Bassingthorpe Farm buildings and showed a primary school, retail, health, community uses and sports pitches.

Rotherham Council believes that development "will not commence before 2021 due to the size and complexity of the site." The authority are also set to prepare planning guidance known as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the site which will require further consultation.

One key issue is the search for external funds to support the infrastructure around the site. Rothbiz reported in August that Rotherham Council had drawn up an outline business case for £8.45m worth of transport improvements.

Bassingthorpe was one of a number of projects discussed at a recent Housing Developer Summit where Rotherham Council highlighted plans to boost housebuilding in the borough.

The overall number of homes in the borough increased by 479 units in the 2017/18 financial year with 233 new homes delivered in the borough during this current financial year. The Council's target is currently 641 units a year.

Images: RMBC / WYG

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News: Massive AMP expansion set for planning green light

The next commercial phase at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham is being recommended for approval at the next meeting of the planning board at Rotherham Council.

Rothbiz reported in March on plans by landowner and developer, Harworth Group that would provide consent for around 35 acres of land to be used for flexible high quality business, manufacturing and office floorspace. An upper floor limit of 430,500 sq ft is proposed with 5% of which being proposed for B1a office use.

Previously the site of the Orgreave coking works and opencast mining, the application site has recently been restored and engineered to provide development platforms to accommodate future employment units. It includes a strip of land between the existing units and the Parkway.

The site is within the Sheffield city region's Enterprise Zone and financial incentives are available to companies relocating here, including Business Rate Relief.

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Matters of access, layout, scale, appearance and plot landscaping are reserved for future consideration as potential occupiers come forward.

The AMP is already home to the likes of Rolls-Royce, Metalysis, Nikken and the world class facilities that make up the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). Recent lettings include Spender Audio, British Steel and Bodycote.

McLaren Automotive has recently taken the keys to its 75,000 sq ft facility on the AMP where the £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) is set to open later this year.

Members of the planning board are being recomended to approve the application and the planning officer highlights the "benefits it will have in terms of securing the future success of the AMP, the generation of high value jobs and the ongoing emergence of the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation District (AMID)."

5% of the floorspace is set to be used for offices alongside the advanced manufacturing units. The plans state that the impact on nearby centres "would be entirely minimal in scale and nature and would not undermine their current or future vitality and viability."

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The development will have some effect on local traffic and transport issues have also been assessed. Highways England initially raised concerns regarding the impact on junction 33 of the M1. Updating the travel plan, including informing end users of public transport and other methods of reducing single occupancy car trips, has allayed the agency's fears.

Plans have also been updated to open up the landscaping along the Parkway that will help show the AMP buildings and demonstrate its importance.

Up to 3,500 pioneering new jobs are being created at the UK's most successful advanced manufacturing technology park but it is estimated that land at the AMP will run out in the next four to five years.

Images: Harworth Group

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News: Sneak peek at Rotherham's newest bar

Tom Austen, editor of Rothbiz, recently took the opportunity to take a look at the renovation work inside a Grade II listed "hidden gem" of a building in Rotherham town centre that is being brought back to life as a boutique hotel. The fact the bars were open for the first time was purely coincidental.

The George Wright building is an early 19th century former office built in a Tudor Revival style. It is tucked away behind the High Street on The Crofts and was saved from being lost forever by Chris Hamby who has pioneered the heritage-led regeneration project to create a complex of mixed-used retail outlets focusing on listed buildings.

With the initial focus on the restoration of the Three Cranes building and the retail units which are fully let, work is almost complete on the conversion of the George Wright building.

This project is being pioneered by another local businessman who sees the potential of the town and the importance of recognising its heritage - Mark McGrail, who found success with Parkgate-based SME Environmental Services and in 2016 completed the 1915 Bar & Bistro, across the town centre.

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The hotel includes two bars. Proud tradespeople mixed with elected members fresh from signing in a new mayor at a "soft opening" event as the staff continued preparations to fully open later in the Spring. Bar staff were putting the finishing touches to the gin and cocktail menus.

With seven bedrooms, the site also has a function room and a number of weddings are already booked in. A grill restaurant with open kitchen is also planned.

Outside, open terraces can be found at the front and back of the property - the hotel can be reached from the Town Hall side and from an alleyway leading up from the High Street. A botanical type garden adds to the "hidden gem" feeling.

Tom Austen said: "When Chris [Hamby] showed me around the properties three years ago, the Three Cranes and Georgion town house were lovingly restored but the George Wright building was still in a sorry state. The roof had been replaced but inside it still had no floor and most areas were out of bounds.

"To go in last week and see it as it is now was seriously impressive. I can remember the bistro at The Crofts but I mostly remember the buildings as dilapidated eyesores.

"The George Wright Boutique Hotel and Bar is something that Rotherham can be proud of and just shows you what can be done with our heritage assets and don't sell ourselves short."

The building was famously occupied by George Wright & Company in the 1800's who designed and manufactured elaborate stoves and fireplaces. The site also formed lawyer's offices from 1777-1887.

The original stone built two-storey, Grade II listed building was constructed in 1850. It includes a two and three storey annex to the north that had been subjected to fire.

George Wright Boutique Hotel Bar & Restaurant Facebook page

Images: Tom Austen

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News: Rotherham Law Courts sentenced to demolition

As wrecking crews get to work demolishing the former Tesco store on Forge Island, it is looking increasingly likely that the nearby former Law Court buildings will also be flattened.

Rotherham Council acquired the former home of the Magistrates' Court, County Court and Family Court, from Her Majesty's Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) for £1 in March.

Following a decision by Commissioner Kenny, the option to demolish the building was delegated to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment and the Council has now begun the tender process to find a firm to take down the buildings on the 1.34 acre site.

Damien Wilson, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment at Rotherham Council, said when the deal was concluded that: "the whole area around Forge Island is a key site in our plans to regenerate the town centre as part of our masterplan so this is another significant step in making these plans become a reality.

"We already have several developers interested in Forge Island and this purchase will significantly aid our plans, bringing added benefits to the town centre masterplan. The site could play a number of different roles through redevelopment and has the potential to accommodate several alternative, complementary activities."

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Only built in 1994, the buildings by the canal, and between the police station and railway station, were vacated in September 2016 after the Government decided to close 86 of the original 91 courts earmarked for closure under its modernisation plans.

The Rotherham building provided 62,785 sq ft of floorspace over four floors but was dubbed "poor quality" and work was transferred to Sheffield.

Complimenting Forge Island and other Council-owned sites on Corporation Street, a cleared Law Courts site could be worth an estimated £500,000.

Demolition costs are around £250,000 according to tender documents and funding is set to be taken from the approved £17m town centre allocation in the Council's Capital Strategy 2016-2021.

The key Forge Island site and surrounding land could deliver a 25,000 sq ft cinema, 20,000 sq ft hotel and 6,000 sq ft of restaurants and bars. It has an estimated project value of £43.5m and is seen as a catalyst project in the new town centre masterplan that was due to be published this month.

Demolition of the vacant Tesco store is underway by local firm, Demex and "soft marketing testing" of both operators and developers has been undertaken with RiDO currently working with property agents, Lambert Smith Hampton.

Through the One Public Estate strategy for the Sheffield city region, The Rotherham courts site has been highlighted for potential residential development as it could provide 120 units including 60 starter homes.

Tendering is also underway for the removal of timber cladding and glass panels on the Tesco footbridge over the River Don.

Images: Google Maps

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News: 75,000 sq ft development for McLaren approved

The planning board at Rotherham Council has approved an application for a 75,000 sq ft development on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham that will enable supercar manufacturer, McLaren to open a multimillion pound Composites Technology Centre.

Drawn up for developer, Harworth Group plc by Barton Willmore and The Harris Partnership, the plans show images of a purpose-built facility for McLaren on a 1.98 hectare site off Whittle Way where Harworth is preparing for the next commercial development - AMPlify, a further 460,000 sq ft of prime space on the AMP.

The application was passed unanimously by members of the planning board at Rotherham Council who met this week. Cllr. Alan Atkin, chair of the planning board welcomed the latest big name to the park and urged the developers to "get it built, in Rotherham."

The site has recently been engineered to form a number of flat plateaus and the proposed development includes the creation of a single 75,000 sq ft building for B1, B2 and B8 uses (including ancillary B1a Offices) along with associated access, parking, and servicing, landscaping and other infrastructure. It will be visible from the Parkway.

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The Composites Technology Centre will be responsible for the research and development of future Monocell and Monocage carbon fibre chassis for McLaren Automotive, as well as the manufacturing of the chassis itself. These carbon fibre "tubs" are now in their second generation and have recently been unveiled as the key feature of McLaren's new 720S.

The centre is set to create more than 200 jobs and will comprise approximately 150 production staff and 50 manufacturing support staff. Recruitment is already underway with the firm looking for a commercial manager, senior finance analyst and engineers that specialise in carbon fibre composite body structures and body panels.

Construction on the facility is due to start this year with the first pre-production chassis, built using trial manufacturing processes in the nearby University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, expected to be delivered to the McLaren Technology Centre in the second half of 2017. Full production at the facility will begin by 2020.

The £50m inward investment is largely down to a new partnership with the AMRC and is backed by a grant of up to £12m via the Sheffield city region (SCR).

McLaren Automotive website
Harworth Group plc website

Images: McLaren / Harris Partnership

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News: Signs of speculative development at Magna 34

Plans for further commercial units in Rotherham have been submitted, signalling a return of speculative development at Templeborough.

The first phase of works at the £31m Magna 34 Business Park were completed in 2008 where Sheffield-based joint venture partners, Loxley Land and Property and Jaguar Estates, predicted it would eventually create around 600 jobs for the region.

The 19 acre park located off Junction 34 of the M1 is on the historic site of the former steelworks and before that, a Roman fort. 10,000 sq ft of office and industrial space is home to the likes of HS Atec, Grayson Fixings and Sortec Software Development. The massive 152,421 sq ft distribution unit, empty since completion in 2008 was taken by Parcelforce in 2014 and later bought by LondonMetric Property Plc in a £10.3m deal.

Now a planning application has been submitted to enable new commercial units to come forward on remaining plots at the site.

Having gained planning approval in 2007, the site benefits from further consent for 40,000 sq ft of industrial use and 10,000 sq ft of office use. However, the current proposals are to replace previously proposed uses on the northern part of the site, with around 26,000 sq ft of industrial use.

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The speculative development will be eligible for B1(c) light industrial, B2 general industrial & B8 storage or distribution and at this stage it is not known who the end users of the different units will be or indeed how many staff will be employed.

The plans, drawn up by Self Architects, show an indicative layout of two buildings which could be subdivided into four units immediately to the west of the first phase, with three buildings to the north between the first phase and RiDO's Fusion business centre, which have the potential to be split into nine units.

The development plots at Magna 34 are allocated within the Sheffield Enterprise Zone, which offers business rates relief worth up to £275,000 to a business over a five-year period.

With GVA and Knight Frank as agents, units have been available on a pre-let or pre-sale basis with consideration given to land sales.

At nearby Tinsley, Rotherham-based developer, E V Waddington Ltd, specialist in brownfield development, continues to successfully bring speculative developments to the market at the completed Vantage Park.

In 2004, Euro Dismantling Services and developer Jaguar Estates were appointed by Corus (now Tata Steel) as joint developers for the former Mayer Parry and Rolling Mills sites on Sheffield Road in Templeborough, Rotherham.

EDS undertook large scale decontamination, groundworks break out and land remediation to create development plots on the sites and following remediation, EDS established Loxley Land and Property to take the schemes forward.

EDS encountered financial problems in 2013 and the decontamination, access & insulation and nuclear trading divisions were acquired by OCS in 2014.

Jaguar Estates website
Loxley Land and Property website

Images: Loxley Land and Property

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News: Council director set to leave

Karl Battersby, strategic director for Environment and Development Services at Rotherham Council, is set to leave the authority to take on a new role at Wigan Council.

Karl has worked at Rotherham Council since 2003, previously as a director of Planning and Transportation and as development control manager. He has been strategic director for Environment and Development Services for the last eight years.

The longest serving senior manager in the council, his remit included the broadest range of services within the authority, primarily focusing on key services delivered to the public such as housing, waste collection and disposal, street cleansing, libraries and customer services and economic development, planning, retail investment and the regeneration arm, RiDO.

Battersby's time at the council saw him play key roles in the Rotherham Renaissance initiative; supporting Rotherham United into a new £20m stadium; the council's move to new offices and the deal with Tesco; approving the Waverley new community development - the biggest planning application the authority has ever dealt with; developing a "sound" core strategy in the Local Plan - one of the first councils to do so; and the regeneration of the Pit House West site which finally looks to be coming to fruition.

Stella Manzie, managing director commissioner at Rotherham Council, said: "Karl has worked at Rotherham Council for 12 years and has held the post of strategic director since 2007.

"He will be greatly missed but we wish him all the very best in his new role at Wigan Council."

As the borough makes a "fresh start" under the management of Government-appointed commissioners, Karl was the only permanent chief officer in post alongside the director of public health, with 45% of the top three tiers of staff currently vacant or covered by interim appointments. Recruitment is underway for a new chief executive, directors and assistant directors.

The council restructure put forward by the commissioners saw non-adult services functions of Neighbourhoods and Adults Services and the asset management functions previously held with Audit, move into Environment and Development Services. Licensing, which has been in the spotlight since it was criticised in independent reports, also moved into the directorate.

Having previously held more junior management roles in both Wakefield and Blackpool Councils Karl has also worked for Exeter City Council and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council. He is set to become the director of economy and regeneration at Wigan.

Rotherham Council website

Images: RMBC

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News: Bramley Aldi plans updated

Plans for a new Rotherham Aldi store have been updated with Britain's fastest growing grocer hoping to open a larger retail outlet at Bramley.

Planning permission was secured last year for a 1,000 sq m store on land currently occupied by lighting and conservatory retail units on Bawtry Road at Bramley.

The new store is expected to open next year and is expected to create 40 jobs.

Since securing permission, Aldi Stores Ltd have secured a small parcel of land adjoining the North West boundary of the site. A slightly larger food store more in line with Aldi's current requirements is now being proposed - totalling 1,104 sq m. The existing building on the extra land will be demolished and the proposed site access off Main Street has been repositioned. The amount of car parking spaces has also increased by eight from the previous planning application to a total of 89.

The proposed store sales area, entrance lobby, warehouse and storage, staff and office facilities have increased, "providing essential enhancements in order to provide an improved service to the of residents of Bramley."

The plans, drawn up by consultants at Planning Potential add: "The increase in retail floor space is so that a larger amount of stock can be displayed at any one time, reducing the need for staff to re-stock shelves, ultimately aiding the customer experience. Aldi do not propose to increase the range of goods on sale and therefore do not envisage that the revised scheme will generate additional visitors compared to the consented scheme."

Applicants have also pointed to the support for the previous plans and the prospect that a proposed foodstore would to lead to a greater number of linked trips, complimenting existing traders nearby.

The next Aldi store to open in Rotherham will be at Gate Park - the new retail development on the site of the former car showroom on Great Eastern Way. Plans have been amended for proposed new Aldi stores in Maltby and Fence.

Aldi announced expansion plans earlier this month that involve opening 130 new stores within the next two years and boosting its 560-store portfolio to 1,000 shops by 2022.

Aldi website

Images: Aldi / The Harris Partnership

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News: Phoenix Riverside completes

The opening of the new Hungry Horse pub has signalled the completion of St Paul's Developments' Phoenix Riverside business park in Templeborough, Rotherham.

Regeneration specialist St Paul's Developments identified the six acre site as prime for commercial development some years ago due to its prominent frontage on to Sheffield Road and proximity to both Rotherham town centre and Junction 34 of the M1. The local developer created 26,000 sq ft of offices which are now let to Rotherham Council, the Royal Mencap Society, In-Tend Ltd and St Paul's themselves.

Called "The Riverside," the recently opened pub is operated by Greene King, the country's leading pub retailer and brewer, and has created in the region of 60 jobs.

Having purchased a 1.5 acre plot adjacent to the office development, a 9,000 sq ft single unit for use as a 200-cover family restaurant / public house was constructed in a matter of months. The Hungry Horse brand was established in 1995 and now has 240 sites nationally where the focus is on providing a family friendly restaurant and public house where the majority of customers will dine rather than visit solely for a drink.

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David Newton, managing director of St Paul's Developments, said: "Phoenix Riverside has been an interesting scheme given that the office units were speculatively developed with the support of Objective One funding prior to the downturn. We always firmly believed that this strategic site could play an important part in the overall regeneration of the Rotherham area and our initial vision has now been realised.

"There has been a significant amount of investment into the Sheffield Road area in recent years and as a result, this major arterial route has become home to some major new occupiers bringing with them positive contributions to the local economy and new jobs for the people of Rotherham. Developers have had to show a lot of grit and tenacity to bring schemes to fruition and we are incredibly proud to have signalled the completion of Phoenix Riverside as a job creating mixed-use development."

Over the last decade the developer has transformed in excess of 300 acres of brownfield land into flagship, job-creating schemes. One development alone, Brookfields Park, secured some 1,800 jobs for South Yorkshire. Working often in partnership with local authorities and land owners, St Paul's Developments utilises its unrivalled regeneration development expertise to bring redundant sites to life.

The next scheme for St Paul's is the latest phase of development at the site of the former Dinnington Colliery. 31 East has seen the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and St Paul's Developments complete an agreement to create a 750,000 sq ft logistics hub that could lead to hundreds of jobs.

St Paul's Developments website

Images: Hungry Horse / St Paul's

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News: Mamas & Papas store closure on the cards

The Rotherham store of premium nursery retailer Mamas & Papas looks set to close after plans were submitted for another retailer to take over the Parkgate Shopping unit.

Last year it was reported that the stores at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham and Meadowhall in Sheffield were considered "currently unviable." The two local stores joined 23 others where the retailer asked for a 50% reduction in rent.

British Land operates a 50/50 joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management for Meadowhall and has Parkgate in its portfolio via the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT), the specialist retail park fund.

Huddersfield-based Mamas & Papas was established in 1981 by David and Luisa Scacchetti and has grown to over 60 stores in the UK and Ireland. A wider restructuring plan for the group was announced following investment from Bluegem Capital Partners in July last year.

As part of the restructure, experts at Deloitte were appointed by Mamas & Papas (Retail) Limited to negotiate a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to revise lease terms for its stores. A CVA is often used by insolvent companies to negotiate new payment terms or periods with its creditors, in this case, the rent on retail property.

A CVA was agreed, which staved off administration, but a number of UK stores and outlets have closed.

The proposed new occupier for the Parkgate unit is growing Yorkshire-based card retailer, Card Factory. Having opened its first store in Wakefield in 1997, it has grown consistently year on year and now operates from over 700 stores across the UK.

The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2014 with the aim of opening up to 1,200 stores in total over the next ten years.

Now, the Wakefield-based firm has submitted a planning application for new signage at the Mamas & Papas unit. Card Factory recently opened on the Tanyard in Wickersley, the second in the borough, following the first on College Street in Rotherham town centre.

Card Factory is a multi-price point value retailer principally offering single cards at various price points of less than £1. The high returns business model means that stores can operate profitably in a wide range of locations and demographics from major centres, retail parks, suburbs of major urban areas and affluent towns.

Also in Parkgate, with units nearly complete at the new retail development on the former car showroom on Great Eastern Way, the name of Gregory Projects' 50,000 sq ft development is set to be "Gate Park." Pizza Hut Delivery is the latest planned occupier, which would join Aldi, Iceland, Home Bargains, Formaula One Autocentres and Banardo's.

Card Factory website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Card Factory

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News: Plans in for new Rotherham Starbucks

American coffee company and coffeehouse chain, Starbucks is hoping to open a new outlet in Rotherham.

With 21,000 retail stores in 66 countries and around 800 in the UK, Starbucks had plans to open hundreds of stores in the UK over the next three to five years. In addition to traditional high street, retail park, kiosk and other concessionary activity, 200 were expected to be drive thru operations.

For Rotherham, a planning application has been submitted on behalf of Rotherham Foundry Pradera Ltd, the owners of the Foundry Retail Park at Parkgate for a 1,959 sq ft drive thru coffee shop which could create 15 new employment opportunities (full time and part time).

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Situated on the existing car parking on the north western side of the established retail park, the unit would be situated to the east of Sofaworks and directly north of The Range and Bensons for Beds.

The plans, drawn up by consultants at Montagu Evans, state: "The development is proposed to complement, and be ancillary to, the existing retail and other facilities available at the retail park to improve the shopping environment for customers. The scale of the development and the type of occupier is commonly found on retail parks across the UK. Coffee shops enhance the shopping experience for customers in town centres, retail parks and elsewhere. The proposed unit will be sited centrally within the scheme, as well as close to the pedestrian access to the site from Great Eastern Way."

As the site is not located within a designated town, district or local centre, officers at Rotherham Council have asked that a sequential test assessment be undertaken in line with national and local planning policies. Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen.

After assessing the potential for sites located within nearby Parkgate district centre, the applicants conclude that only one unit is of suitable size but is "not an appropriate location for the development of coffee shop, with a drive thru format."

The plans add: "Parkgate district centre, which is formed of many small, independent commercial ventures, is not realistically attractive to a national multiple trader such as Starbucks who seeks locations well related to other national operators. Were this application to be refused in terms of the sequential test, there is no realistic prospect of Starbucks deciding to invest in opening a coffee shop at 122 Broad Street instead of Foundry Retail Park. Accordingly, the objectives of the sequential test – to direct investment to the most suitable locations – would not be met by such a decision."

The first Starbucks in Rotherham is located within Woodall Serices on the M1. Here, plans are also being progressed to convert the former Police building into a standalone Starbucks outlet.

Starbucks partners with franchisees and developers such as EuroGarages and 23.5 Degrees Ltd and the Seattle firm made a pre-tax profit of £1.05m in the year to September 2014 in the UK, compared with a £20.5m loss the previous year. Gross profit for the year to 28 September 2014 rose 24% to £98.8m.

Starbucks website

Images: Eurograges

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News: Masterplan submitted for "AMRC 2"

The University of Sheffield has submitted a masterplan for a new advanced manufacturing campus based on the success of its Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing.

Located on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham and a partner in the HVM Catapult (the government's strategic initiative that aims to revitalise the manufacturing industry), the AMRC focuses on advanced machining and materials research for aerospace and other high-value manufacturing sectors. It is a partnership between industry and academia, which has become a model for research centres worldwide.

In 2014 the institution signed a deal to secure 50 acres of land at Sheffield Business Park, paving the way for the expansion of the AMRC and building on its success on the AMP, where it already operates from 300,000 sq ft of accommodation within seven separate buildings.

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With space at a premium on the AMP, construction is already well underway on the first project on the new site - the £43m Factory 2050 that will be the UK's first fully reconfigurable assembly and component manufacturing facility for collaborative research.

Now plans have been submitted for 46 hectares of employment land on the former Sheffield Airport site, off the Parkway between Rotherham and Sheffield, to create the AMRC2 Campus. Drawn up by Bond Bryan Architects and DLP Planning consultants, it includes 1.3 million sq ft of buildings - 860,000 sq ft for advanced manufacturing and research, 670,000 sq ft for a residential training centre and conferencing, and 16,000 sq ft for outdoor and indoor recreation.

It is designed specifically to have a "campus" feel "which encourages cross fertilisation of ideas and work. The value to the University and more importantly to the business and partners that the University works with will be significantly enhanced."

Support amenities including office space and elements of retail may also be included but these would be of a scale to support the overall function of the campus and be ancillary in nature.

New research buildings include the proposed £30m National Material Institute, part of the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Material Science, announced in December. Anticipated projects also include a £20m Fast Make Centre of Excellence were prototypes move to manufacture within months, and a £30m Energy 2050 development - a world-leading hub of excellence set up to address the "trilemma" of making energy more affordable, secure and sustainable.

On the AMP, the next developments for the AMRC include a £7m extension of the Cti facility so that it can become the only place in the UK that can produce large scale titanium castings for the next generation of aircraft. It is also hoping to double the size of its AMRC Training Centre.

In the same way Rolls-Royce has been attracted to the AMP, the new campus is expected to attract leading manufacturing companies to locate the the area. The AMRC has signalled its intentions to double its turnover to in excess of £80m over the next five years and to play a key part in the ambitious plans announced earlier this year by Sheffield and Rotherham Councils to create the first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District in the UK.

The plans cover areas of previously developed land and involve the demolition of airport buildings but they will also need to prove the case for special circumstances as the scheme proposes a significant amount of development within the Green Belt.

The development could lead to the creation of 1,494 – 1,881 jobs directly related to the proposal and an annual direct operational contribution of £58.9m - £74.2m in GVA (a measurement of an area's economic output) to the local economy.

The plans state: "The development at Sheffield Business Park of the AMRC Campus 2 has already attracted significant interest from partner organisations nationally and internationally. The University anticipates that this interest will, just as with Rolls-Royce, develop into significant investments for manufacturing, employment, and gross value added to the local, regional and national economy.

"The global renown of the University's AMRC activities indicates the potential for AMRC2 Campus to be a prestigious development which contributes to civic pride and most importantly significant investment in manufacturing."

AMRC website

Images: AMRC / Bond Bryan

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News: Pub plans provide boost

Leading brownfield developer, St Paul's Developments has welcomed the news that work has started on a new Hungry Horse pub restaurant at its Phoenix Riverside scheme at Templeborough in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported first that Greene King, the country's leading pub retailer and brewer, was planning a new pub restaurant on the site where plans for a hotel and restaurant have previously been refused.

The Rotherham application gained planning permission last month for the erection of a 9,000 sq ft single unit for use as a 200-cover family restaurant / public house. The plans, drawn up by Walsingham Planning and JDA Architects, also include car parking and landscaping works and a children's play area. In addition, a manager's flat and assistant manager's flat is proposed on the first floor of the development.

Plans state that the proposed restaurant / public house will create 60 new jobs (20 full-time and 40 part-time positions). Greene King has a strong partnership with Jobcentre Plus and in association with them, looks to recruit staff to the premises from the local area around the site with a particular focus on the long term unemployed.

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Greene King has purchased 1.5 acres of land with prime frontage on to Sheffield Road from St Paul's Developments at its six acre, 26,000 sq ft Phoenix Riverside business park which is close to Rotherham town centre and Junction 34 of the M1. Existing occupiers at Phoenix Riverside include St Paul's themselves plus the Royal Mencap Society, Rotherham Council and In-Tend Ltd, leaving just Unit 2 available with office suites from 4,250 sq ft to 8,500 sq ft.

In 2013, Rotherham Council's planning board agreed that Whitbread's plans for a 80-bed Premier Inn hotel and restaurant at the same Templeborough site should be refused, with planners considering a number of sites, including a site currently used for car parking at New York Stadium, are preferable sites for a hotel in planning terms.

Recruitment is underway and work has now started on site, with the opening of the new Hungry Horse pub set for summer 2015. The brand was established in 1995 and now has 220 sites nationally where the focus is on providing a family friendly restaurant and public house where the majority of customers will dine rather than visit solely for a drink.

David Newton, managing director of St Paul's Developments, said; "We are delighted to welcome the Hungry Horse pub to our headquarter site at Phoenix Riverside. The creation of 60 new jobs by a leading national chain will provide a welcome boost to the local Rotherham economy and provide a really valuable amenity for businesses and residents in the area."

Marc McGuigan, business unit director for Hungry Horse, added: "It is always exciting when we build a new pub, and we are particularly looking forward to being an integral part of this new development, an ideal location for our family-friendly pub. Hungry Horse pubs are known for serving a wide choice of food and drink at outstanding prices, in modern and comfortable surroundings.

"It is good news all round for Rotherham with the creation of 60 full and part time local jobs at the pub."

Greene King website
St Paul's Developments website

Images: Greene King

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News: Don Valley put forward for Housing Zone status

Areas of the Don Valley between Sheffield and Rotherham have been shortlisted for a Government initiative to make it easier and quicker to build new homes on brownfield land.

The Government believes that there is enough brownfield land to provide up to 200,000 new homes and ministers expect to see planning permissions covering 90% of this land to be in place by 2020.

As part of that, the government plans to create ten flagship housing zones across the country outside of London – complementing a further 20 zones inside the Capital.

A bid led by Sheffield City Council has been named on a shortlist of 29 potential housing zones looking to get a slice of £200m in reocoverable loans from the government to "unlock" schemes on brownfield land that could be ready to go but are being held back by the high upfront capital that is needed.

Housing Zones would be able to access a combination of long term investment funding, planning simplification (e.g. local development orders), local authority leadership, dedicated brokerage support from central government and ATLAS planning support. Local authorities who submit successful proposals for Housing Zones will also have access to cheaper borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board.

Andy Rose, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, said: "Housing Zones are an opportunity to unlock redundant brownfield land with the potential to provide viable housing developments. So I am pleased to see the projects shortlisted under our programme, which will contribute to much-needed new homes and successful places."

Sheffield and Rotherham councils have a history of joint-working in the Lower Don Valley, the vast area of traditional manufacturing land that links the two economies. Masterplans have been drawn up for infrastructure and flood defences, and transports projects, such as the tram-train and Bus Rapid Transit system, are set to improve links between the two centres.

The area includes the ongoing £100m Waverley development, the largest brownfield development in South Yorkshire, where a new community of 4,000 homes along with shops, restaurants, schools, leisure & community facilities and parks is being created. Developers, Harworth Estates has previously secured a £10.95m loan from the Local Infrastructure Fund, which is managed by the Homes and Communities Agency and accelerates the delivery of the infrastructure needed to boost Enterprise Zone schemes and accelerate large-scale housing developments.

Areas in the Don Valley are already included in the Government's Enterprise Zone initiative which is helping to unlock commercial development.

As part of the recent devolution deal, Sheffield City Region and the Homes and Communities Agency are set to continue to work to identify housing investment priorities and timeframes across the Sheffield City Region to provide a framework for increased public and private investor confidence and for maximising value from national and local public sector land assets. As part of this, Sheffield City Region will publish a pipeline of potential priority schemes and seek public and private investment partners.

Work is also taking place with the Government on support for medium-sized developments in the Sheffield City Region that may currently not be eligible for funding but have a viable business case.

Rotherham Council has also secured £33,332 from the Government as part of a £5m initiative to provide capacity support for local authorities to enable them to undertake planning, project management and technical activities necessary to bring sites to the point of delivery. Rotherham Council has identified schemes capable of providing at least 1,500 homes, potentially at Waverley or Bassingthorpe Farm, and will now use this funding to speed up the necessary work, enabling homes to be provided sooner than would otherwise be possible.

Images: Taylor Wimpey

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News: Funding comes forward for Rotherham retail development

A forward funding agreement has been secured with Bramall Properties Ltd that will enable construction to begin on a new retail development at Parkgate in Rotherham.

The land owner, Rotherham recycling experts, Ron Hull, teamed up with Leeds-based developers, Gregory Projects to bring forward a potential retail development on the site of a former car showroom at Great Eastern Way.

The development has outline approval for a 16,000 sq ft discount food store together with 30,000 sq ft of additional retail and leisure facilities along with 200 car parking spaces. The first phase sees Aldi taking the largest unit at 16,544 sq ft and Iceland taking the adjacent 7,000 sq ft unit. The third unit, of 15,000 sq ft is under offer to Home Bargains. The next phase can cater for requirements of between 1,000 sq ft and 10,000 sq ft.

Forward funding has been secured from Bramall Properties Ltd, the North Yorkshire firm which has carried out a substantial number of commercial and residential developments over the last few years and which holds a variety of office and commercial property investments and provides funding for other property developments.

The deal means that construction can now begin next month and Sheffield-based experts, J F Finnegan has been appointed as the main contractor. The development is due to be completed by July 2015.

Richard Tovey, director at Gregory Projects, said: “The property has been vacant for some time and we are pleased to bring it back into use.

"The strength of the location has attracted an excellent tenant line-up enabling funding to be secured at an early stage in the project.

"We look forward to working with the appointed builder and professional team to deliver the scheme for Rotherham and in particular, the Parkgate and Rawmarsh communities."

The Leeds office of GVA has advised Gregory Projects on the pre-lettings, Walker Morris acted for Gregory Projects in the site purchase, funding and lettings. Shulmans advised Bramall Properties Ltd.

At the current Foundry Retail Park over the road, Scandinavian home furnishing retailer, JYSK has taken over a 6,000 sq ft unit and opens today.

Gregory Projects website

Images: Gregory Projects / GVA

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News: Consultation opens on final development sites

Consultation has begun on the proposed sites that will form Rotherham's planning blueprint for the next 15 years where 235 hectares of land will be needed over the period to meet the broad requirements of 12 - 15,000 additional jobs.

The figure, which includes five hectares for office use, has been formulated as part of Rotherham Council's long-running work on a new Local Plan that has recently been formally adopted by the council after satisfying government inspectors.

The plan includes the Core Strategy - which sets out the broad amount and distribution of future growth - and the Sites and Policies document - which sets out the detailed sites and development management policies to deliver this growth. The planning inspector, Richard Hollox, recommended a number of changes to the Core Strategy, including raising the overall housing target from 14,000 to 17,000.

The inspector was challenged by the council on the amount of homes that needed to be built and the potential effect on the green belt. They will now be able to set their own target for housing numbers which stood at 14,371, or 958 dwellings every year.

For a six week period from yesterday, the public will be able to view exactly where - and where not - new residential and industrial developments can be considered.

A total of 42 proposed development sites have been identified through reviews and surveys with 261 hectares of land identified, compared to the target of 235 hectares in the recently adopted Core Strategy.

The document also contains development management policies to guide decisions on planning applications and includes designations to protect sensitive locations. A review of all town, district and local centres and Mixed Use areas has been undertaken to inform the uses that will be supported in these areas.

One such policy is designed to maintain and enhance the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) by supporting uses that can demonstrate that they contribute towards the advanced manufacturing and materials sector, whilst restricting more general employment uses.

Andy Duncan, planning policy manager for the council, said: "Anyone interested in the future development of the borough should take a look at this document. Having a Local Plan in place is vital for a number of reasons. We need to provide sufficient, good quality homes and decent affordable housing as well as providing employment land - and we need the views of the public.

"Interested parties have until Monday, November 24, in which to make their comments."

A number of public drop-in consultation events are planned.

Local Plan consultation website

Images: RMBC

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News: Council income to drive economic development

Staff working in economic development at Rotherham Council have been given a new objective in addition to creating jobs for local people and the regeneration of deprived communities - generating income via an increase in business rates and Council Tax.

Local authorities are under intense pressure to make savings. Rotherham Council's latest budget included a £23m savings package put together in response to further massive reductions in Government funding. £70m has been cut from its budget since 2010 with £20m plus savings needed next year too.

Local councils collect Non Domestic Rates (business rates) from the owners and occupiers of commercial properties on behalf of central Government. Rotherham Council reported a collection rate of 98.2 per cent for 2013/14 which resulted in £73.5m being collected compared with £71.5m the previous year.

The Government introduced a business rates retention scheme from April 2013 aimed at providing a direct link between business rates growth and the amount of money councils have to spend on local people and local services. Under the new scheme, Rotherham Council will be able to keep a proportion of the business rates revenue as well as a proportion of the £2m of revenue growth.

A recent scrutiny review by borough councillors into how the council can support the local economy outlines its first recommendation as ensuring that the emerging Growth Plan is focused around two key objectives – income generation and employment creation.

A multi-disciplinary "Task Force" is proposed to bring together council teams working in economic development, regeneration, business support, housing, transport and education with the key purpose of providing a "coordinated holistic approach to generating investment and economic growth in Rotherham, for the benefit of its local businesses, communities and residents. The focus should be on working both internally, and in partnership with the private sector in Rotherham, to include a range of projects in terms of size and value."

A key piece of work for the Improving Places Select Commission, Cllrs Wallis, Beck, Atkin and Jepson met with council teams, partners and the private sector to discuss the issues.

The scrutiny review adds: "During the last ten years many Government quangos and agencies involved in economic regeneration and skills development have come and gone, as have many different funding regimes. The review group noted that the only constant during this period of rapid change has been local government. They therefore, potentially have the best area of influence over social and economic problems.

"Currently the conditions for growth are right – the Council needs to be ready for this and to consider ways in which more of their available resources can be targeted towards the growth agenda. If most of the resources are spent on welfare and supporting the vulnerable this will not be sustainable in the longer term and Rotherham will have missed an opportunity to invest in the future of the town's economy."

The review points to areas that the Council can influence effectively, including the strategic management of land supply (including its own assets), high profile leadership from the Council and work with the private sector and partners, fostering more enterprising and aspirational attitudes and adopting a more business friendly approach.

Images: RMBC

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